Catalogue description Records of Victualling Departments

Victualling, initially by contract, became the responsibility of the Surveyor of Victuals, a principal officer of the Navy Board in 1679. In 1683, he was replaced by a Board of Victualling Commissioners subordinate to the Navy Board. This Victualling Board took over certain functions, including medical services, from the Transport Board on its dissolution in 1817.

When the Victualling Board itself was abolished in the reforms of 1832, victualling became the responsibility of the Comptroller of Victualling and Transports, under the superintendence of the Fourth Sea Lord. In 1862 transport duties passed to a separate Transport Department and in 1869 the office of Comptroller of Victualling was abolished. His former duties were divided between the newly formed Contract and Purchase Department, under the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary, which became responsible for purchasing, and the Superintendent (later Director) of Victualling, who exercised the store-keeping functions.